The Chairman of the Committee on Human and Minority Rights and Gender Equality, Meho Omerovic, who chaired the meeting, informed the members of GRETA about the legislative framework against trafficking in human beings in the Republic of Serbia, adding that the national legislation still needs to undergo further harmonisation with relevant European Union regulations in the field. He pointed out that harmonising the Criminal Code with European Union and Council of Europe directives and decisions is a priority for 2013, adding that the 2010 MPs’ Handbook for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings should be presented to the current National Assembly legislature. Omerovic opined that the National Assembly MPs should join the group of parliamentarians from 15 European countries whose activities are aimed at fighting trafficking in humans.

The members of GRETA asked about the role the National Assembly plays in the fight against trafficking in humans, especially children and Roma as particularly sensitive categories, as well as the effects combating trafficking in humans for labour exploitation. The committee members briefed the guests on the child protection mechanismsintended first and foremost for children from impoverished families, then the work of foster homes for children without parental care, as well as the recent amendments and modifications to the legal framework which guarantee no statute of limitation for sexual crimes against minors. The Chairman of the Committee on Human and Minority Rights and Gender Equality also informed the members of GRETA on the activities related to ensuring protection mechanisms for the Roma population and announced the adoption of a new Law on National Minority Councils. The Chairman of the Committee on Kosovo-Metohija, Milovan Drecun, spoke of the need to increase the efficiency of the fight against human trafficking in Kosovo-Metohija, also listing other population categories sensitive to human trafficking such as younger population from rural areas.

The officials concluded that fighting human trafficking calls for joint efforts from all the relevant institutions both on the national and international level so that the results of the fight against trafficking in humans might reach the level achieved in highly developed countries.